The White House nominated Neil Patel to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Meredith Atwell Baker has been heading the program as acting NTIA chief; she is leaving the agency, but has not publicly given a timetable for her departure.
Patel has been assistant secretary for domestic and economic policy to Vice President Cheney. Before that, according to the NTIA, he was staff secretary to the vice president and is former general counsel at UUNET Technologies.
Patel must be confirmed by the Senate.
FCC Chairman Martin and Commissioner McDowell praised the nomination.
